Ben Allee

9.5

This was so enjoyable. Had a flight of reds and whites at the vineyard--standouts were the exceedingly dry Wolf Mountain Red and the buttery Chanteloup, which turned me on to chardonnay in a way I'd been looking for for years. But the best of the bunch, for our money that afternoon, was the Plateau. Wonderfully complex citrus notes with pear, mango, grapefruit, and a delightful level of tannin. Looking forward to making this our 'classy regular' white, if we can get it shipped often. — 2 years ago

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9.7

The 2005 Clos Fourtet is a dramatic, sweeping Saint-Émilion endowed with tremendous depth and unctuous intensity. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco and woodsmoke build as this rapturous, deeply textured wine shows off its allure. Silky, plush and wonderfully expressive, Clos Fourtet is fabulous in 2005. Bright saline notes, that are such a signature of Saint-Émilion's plateau, balance all of the natural richness of the year. Readers lucky enough to own it can look forward to another several decades of exceptional drinking. This is a superb effort from the Cuvelier family. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 3 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.6

Very pungent meaty nose followed by forest floor, underbrush, lavender. Port like at the absolute plateau with a very long finish. — 3 years ago

Hanibal

9.4

What better way to close the night....took a few hours to open up but the balance (acidity/sweetness) is uncanny....easily can stay on its plateau for another couple of decades — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Reminds of the Sanguis Beekeeper bottling.,
Winery notes
Not an easy wine to find, check out K&L

blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Roussanne, this wine is distinctly floral and lush, exemplifying the quality that the famed Brechet family of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s Château Vaudieu brings to every wine in their lineup. The Brechet family has an estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and just across the river from it they own a few small parcels in Lirac. This lovely little wine is at once floral, delicate, and rich, with a surprisingly weighty palate and a round quality on the tongue that enhances its depth. You might think a white from 2015 is a bit on the old side, but this little gem is just hitting its stride. With its couple of added years of age it has mellowed out, creating an almost honeyed quality in the glass that intensifies the complexity and lengthens the finish. It’s simply begging to be paired with a lightly spiced Asian cuisine such as a milder Thai dish or a traditional pork Bahn Mi. — 4 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

8.9

Still holding up well... but, based on this bottle, I’d say this wine is approaching the end of its drinking plateau. — 5 years ago

Jan G

9.4

Drinking in Jordan — 6 years ago

Martinez

9.0

Good Pomerol from one of the appellation’s largest estates, with around 12 hectares on the southern part of the Pomerol plateau, in an area known for its iron-rich clay subsoils. Known locally as “crasse de fer” or iron dirt, this type of subsoils have a high content of iron-oxide, which gives Pomerol wines their characteristic aromatic richness. It was also the inspiration for the estate’s name (“taille fer” translates to “carve the iron”). 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc, aged for 12 months in oak barrel (40% new). Aromas of dark fruit, plums, chocolate and earthy notes. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated. Noticeable tannins. — 2 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.0

🏅 Rating 90/100 (4,0⭐)

Blackcurrant leaf, perfumed. Fruit with herbal note. Tannin is persistent, finely grained. Drink now. Impressive value for money. Solid Napa Valley CabSauv which has already reached its maturity plateau. Don't look for something sophisticated here, enjoy with juicy steak or the dish of your choice.

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Instagram: @wine_talks_club — 3 years ago

Lindsay Sullivan

9.0

Easy drinking — 3 years ago

with Brice

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.6

I am not a Bordeaux drinker and not great at keeping an inventory of my wines. So much to my surprise I discovered a full case of this in a dark corner. And what a glorious find this is. Wine absolutely at its plateau but another 10 to 15 years to go. Medium body, layered but not heavy. Color almost has not moved. Keeps evolving in the glass, sweet, lead pencil and still plenty of fruit left. Great effort in a rather difficult year. This makes you smile. — 4 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.0

Age has helped, but could still age another 15. Iodine and espresso. Baked black fruit. Dark chocolate. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Estate named Beau-Séjour in 1787 by General Jacques de Carle, proprietor at the time. Michel Bécot bought estate from Dr Jean Fagouet in 1969 increasing vines from 10.5 hectares to 15, acquiring Trois Moulins plateau in 1979, kept the name Beau-Séjour Bécot. Blend of 87% Merlot, 9% Cab Sauv & 4% Cab Franc. Nice berry aromas, ripe cherry & fresh raspberry flavors with notes of sweet cacao & tobacco adding some toasty notes. Firm tannins, not overpowering, lingering ending with tangy sweet oak.Tasting Sample. — 4 years ago

Joe Loughran

9.4

This is really nice and probably on its longish peak plateau. Lots of dark brambly fruit, plum, a bit of leather, refined tannins, a bit boozy. Great w roasted meats and hearty fare. — 5 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.4

Near-perfect Châteuneuf-du-Pape that hits right out of the bottle. Mont-Redon claims to rep all three soils on one estate. Ideal vino with which to welcome the Beard to Philly. #ttp — 2 years ago

with Caroline

Bob McDonald

9.5

You would never pick this as a 26 year old red wine from the colour. A rich Ruby red with no tawny rim. This has the Penfolds DNA of ripe plum, mocha, coffee bean and chocolate - a trace of liquorice. The palate is medium plus weight, balanced and harmonious maintaining that core strength. Those initially firm tannins have become supple. Drinking at its peak but could stay on this plateau for a couple more years. My last bottle of the 96 but I still have a few more bottles of the Bin 707 from 1996 which was a huge wine. — 2 years ago

Caitlin

9.0

Fruity af, very funky, Stoney and some leather — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid to deep Ruby in colour. Some maturity in evidence on the rim. Cedar/cigar box aromas with black currant and cassis - classic Pauillac descriptors Only medium bodied - lacked some intensity for the vintage. Restrained - 20 years might be its limit. It will sit on the plateau but won’t improve. In summary a lovely old claret and has been better than its 5th Growth status for decades. “Lunch Bags” as old poms used to refer to it as. — 4 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

Nice pepper/spice, due to Chilean terroir and high altitude. Thought it was a Shiraz at first — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

One of my all time favorites, the 1982 Cristal is magnificent. Fresh, nuanced and exceptionally beautiful, the 1982 remains one of the all-time great Cristals. Apricot, almond and chamomile nuances suggest the 1982 is just starting to turn the corner into its plateau of maturity. This bottle lacks a bit of excitement, but, then again, the 1982 Cristal is not exactly the sort of wine I get to taste on a regular basis, so it is possible this is not the best showing. Hopefully, I will get a chance to taste it again soon. Even so, well-stored bottles will drink well for another decade-plus. “In my opinion, 1982 is the first vintage of climate change in Champagne,” Lécaillon explains. “Sugars were higher than we were used to seeing. As a comparison, the 1981 Cristal is also concentrated, but it is concentrated by low yields. In 1982, we had high yields and elevated ripeness, meaning it was the sun that ripened the fruit.” (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 5 years ago